SPARTANBURG — It was a tumultuous preseason for the Swansea High football program.

Their football coach, Greg Wright, was relieved off his duties in late June, and an interim coach, Eric Pack, was selected a few days later. The season was not much better as the Tigers posted a 3-8 record, which ended with a 43-6 loss to Dillon.

Though, the one pillar throughout the chaos for Swansea was linebacker Greg Williams.

Williams, listed at 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, followed a 100-tackle junior season with yet another 100 tackle season and a Shrine Bowl selection. He also received the opportunity he had dreamed of — a scholarship offer from Clemson.

"I'm hoping to play right away," said Williams, rated a three-star recruit and South Carolina's No. 8 prospect by ESPN. "I'm looking forward to it, but if not, I am going to be learning under Tre if he stays, and that would also be good for me."

Surprisingly, Williams, who is described by Pack as a "Ninja on the field" because of his quiet and demanding presence, was the only Clemson commitment to be selected to the 2018 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, an all-star game between the top seniors in the two states. He showed he was more than able to play against some of the best that the Tarheels had to offer by making five tackles, one sack and a tackle for loss for the Sandlappers, as they held the potent Tarheels offense to 317 total yards.

"We played good," Williams said. "I felt I played good. There are a couple of plays I could have fixed, but it was good to play against guys like this."

Though, those results are not surprising to Pack.

"He's so quiet," Pack said. "He's very knowledgeable and a student of the game. He just has a natural knack for the game and is very coachable. He's going to do great up there."

Having the opportunity to play for a national championship contender such as the Tigers -- they are in the College Football Playoffs for the fourth consecutive season -- and a defensive coordinator such as Brent Venables has Williams salivating.

"I'm looking for great leadership, and Coach Venables is the best coordinator in the NCAA," Williams said. "I'm just ready to get taught under him so I can get better."

But first, Williams said he will be watching eagerly as the Tigers play Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on Dec. 29.

"I'm excited to see and ready to see," he said. "I want to win national championships."

"I know he's excited about it," Pack said. "Clemson is getting a really good man who is really humble. His parents raised him really well. He's always stayed on board with them."

"I just want to progress and learn," Williams said. "It's just a great opportunity and I want to show them how I can play."